Lock joint coupling



June 30, 1942. E. KRUMSIEK ETAL 2,287,889

LOCK JOINT COUPLING Filed Dec. 3, 1940 Patented time so, 1942 LOCK Jom'rCOUPLING Ernest Krumsiek and Ray Kileen, Decatur, Ill.,

assignors to Mueller 00., Decatur, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication December 3, 1940, Serial No. 368,401

3 Claims.

This invention relates to lock joint couplingsincluding an improved formof compression element. In general, the object of the invention is toprovide an improved joint which is leakproof and wherein the joinedmembers are securely locked against separation.

There is at present a growing demand for supply pipes, preferably madeof copper or the like, which can be easily bent to accommodate fittingswhich may be somewhat out of proper location. In such a situation, oneend of the supply pipe can be connected, for example, to a wall or floorfitting and the pipe bent so that its other end can be inserted in theshank of a, faucet or other element even though the latter may besubstantially out of alignment with the fitting. With such anarrangement, it is important that the pipe be securely positioned andbesides, many plumbing codes prohibit the use of a slip jointconnection. The coupling of the present invention is designed to meetall requirements in a particularly effective manner.

The invention is shown in illustrative and-practical embodiment in theaccompanying drawing with reference to which description will proceed.

In the drawing: Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a compression ring inaccordance with the present invention, Figure 2 shows the ring and otherelements of the joint in axial section in process of assembly, and

Figure 3 shows the completed joint in axial section.

Referring to the drawing, reference numerals 5 and 6 designate twotelescoped portions which are to be locked together, the portion 5 beingthe end of a deformable section of pipe; such as copper tubing, and theportion 6 being part of any appropriate fitting such as a wall or floorfitting, faucet shank, and the like. Portion 6 has a conical mouth 1whose elements are at a angle to the axis of the conical surface, thisend of member 5 with a fairly close sliding fit. The .ring is formed asthe frustum of a cone whose elements, as here shown, are at a 12 tiallycollapsed inwardly, creating a mating cirbeing a usual provision infittings of the type under contemplation; However, where the flaredmouth is absent, it may be'readily provided. The thickened end ofportion 6 is provided'with external threads 8.

Reference numeral 8 designates a conventional coupling nut engageablewith the threads 8 and including an internal flange l0 defining a angleto its axis. In other words, the angle of element ll is less thanthe-angle of the conical mouth 1, in the present instance; by 3".Element II is provided with a plurality of circumferential outsidegrooves l3 and 7H4, the latter being deeper than the former so that,both grooves terminate at about the same distance from the walls of theopening l2. The provision of the groove It results in an overhang, orundercut portion, at'the large end of the ring,

In Figure 2, the ring H is shown as embracing portion 5 near the end ofthelatter with its small end received in the flare l of portion 6,groove 13 being within and groove it without the flare.

When the nut c is now engaged with the threads 8 and. threaded home, thering id through longitudinal compression is tightly wedged in the mouthi and by. the time the portion 16, which is between grooves it and it,has come into tight engagement with the flared surface of the mouth, thering portion ii, in the zone of groove l3, has beencircumferencumferential indentation in the walls of member 5, Figure 3.This is due to the fact that when the nut is tightened, the lower orinner extremity of the. compression member can move little if anyfurther inwardly of the mouth from the position shown in Figure 2whereas, due to the difference in angle between the ring and the mouth,the ring portion it can move in-' wardly to a substantial extent. Toaccommodate this latter movement, zone 51 must buckle inwardly to therelation shown. in Figure 3. The zone iii of the ring is now tightlywedged in the flared mouth and rigidly backs portion 5 above thebuckling zone ll, portion 5 being also rigidly backed by the ringportion below the zone H. A rigid fluid tight interlock is thus secured.

The compressive force of nut 9 is transmitted to the ring throughoverhang l5 radially outwardly of the inner end of groove M with up-!stantial extent although in actual practice; it-Irequently becomescompletely closed with a consequent greater radial range of inwardcollapse at zone IS. A most effective fluid tight interlock is securedin all cases. g

It will be seen, that the new joint is composed of standard partsoutside of the compression element II and this is in itself a valuablefeature. Element H is easily fashioned of suitably deformable materialsuch as brass or the like. i

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not necessarilylimited to the precise form of parts illustrated and that we do notlimit ourselves to the illustrative disclosure herein except as in thefollowing claims.

We claim:

1. A joint comprising two tubular; portions in telescoped relation,theinner portion being deformable and the outer portion having a conicaloutwardly enlarged mouth, a conical compression ring of smaller anglethan said mouth received in and having an external annular groove withinthe latter, said compression ring surrounding said inner member, and anut threaded on said outer portion engaging and wedging said ring insaid mouth and collapsing said ring circumferentially inwardly in thezone of said groove whereby a mating circumferential indenoutwardlyenlarged mouth, a conical compression ring having a portion in saidmouth and a portion outwardly of the latter, said outward portion ofsaid ring being provided with a circumferential groove whereby acircumferential overhang is provided, said ring surrounding said innermember, and a nut threaded on said outer portion and having an internalflange engaging said overhang and collapsing said compression ringcircumferentially inwardly in the zone of said groove whereby. a matingcircumferential indentation is formed in said inner portion.

3. A joint comprising two tubular portions in telescoped relation, theinner portion being deformable and the outer portion having a conicaloutwardly enlarged mouth, a conical compression ring of smaller anglethan said mouth received in and having an external annular groove withinthe latter, said compression ring surrounding said inner member, saidring having a portion outwardly of said mouth provided with a circum-.ferential groove whereby a circumferential over- Jhang is provided,said ring surrounding said in- *ner member, and a nut threaded on saidouter portion and having an internal flange engaging said overhang andwedging said ring in said mouth and collapsing said ringcircumferentially inwardly in the zones of said grooves whereby matingcircumferential indentations are formed in said inner portion. I

ERNEST KRUMSIEK.

RAY KILEEN.

